Box Score CLEVELAND, Ohio - - Belmont University men's basketball waged a furious second-half comeback before dropping a 67-65 decision at Cleveland State Saturday.
The Bruins, playing their 10th out of 13 games away from home, were never able to work into an offensive rhythm.
After sophomore Mack Mercer (Plymouth, Ind.) got Belmont within one, 11-10, at the 12:29 mark, Andre Yates capped an 8-0 run to give the host Vikings a 21-12 lead.
Junior Taylor Barnette (Lexington, Ky.) kept Belmont within striking distance with trademark sharpshooting, but Cleveland State seemingly had an answer at every turn.
The Vikings, who entered the game shooting under 40 percent from the field as a team, made a number of contested shots against Belmont defense in the first half. In addition, 10 points off the bench from reserve Tim Hasbargen provided Cleveland State a big lift.
Bounces weren't going Belmont's way early; case in point, as an apparent Mercer basket was wiped off the boards on a simultaneous Viking foul near midcourt. Moments later, Belmont rimmed out and Cleveland State scored for a four-point swing.
After Barnette closed the margin to 32-27, Yates and Hasbargen answered with three-point plays for Cleveland State.
The Vikings led 40-31 at halftime.
Belmont shot 42 percent (10-for-24) from the field in the opening 20 minutes - including 5-for-13 from three-point distance. The Bruins committed nine first half turnovers, several on player control fouls.
The second half began inauspiciously for Belmont as junior Evan Bradds (Jamestown, Ohio) had a finger roll basket disallowed on a charging call. He was forced to the bench with his third personal foul with 19:18 left.
Two free throws from senior Craig Bradshaw (Ridgetop, Tenn.) closed the margin to 44-37 with 15:48 remaining, before Rob Edwards and Vinny Zollo replied with five points for Cleveland State.
Mercer and sophomore Amanze Egekeze (Lake in the Hills, Ill.) established a strong presence inside, scoring and working Cleveland State into foul trouble. The duo kept plays alive and gave Belmont countless second and third chance opportunities.
But after earning the bonus with 11:10 left, the Bruins missed four consecutive free throws midway through the second half which slowed momentum.
Despite engaged Belmont defense, Cleveland State took a 59-46 lead with 9:10 left on a baseline three-pointer fro Daniel Levitt.
From there, Belmont tightened the screws, holding the Vikings to one made field goal over the next seven minutes.
A conventional three-point play from Bradshaw got the Bruins within 59-55 with 5:33 to go.
Following two Bradshaw free throws, Egekeze buried a wing three-pointer to tie the score at 61 with 3:31 left.
Despite all the adversity and outside shooting woes, the Bruins had fought back into the game with team defense and extra effort plays.
After another defensive stop, Mercer gave Belmont its first lead of the game, 63-61, with 2:43 left.
Demonte Flannigan tied the score moments later with a putback basket.
After an exchange of defensive stops - which included Bradds fouling out - Mercer made two free throws with 49 seconds left to put Belmont ahead 65-63.
It capped a 19-4 Belmont run.
On Cleveland State's next possession, Flannigan made an impressive and contested right-handed hook to tie the score at 65 with 35 seconds remaining.
With a five second differential between the game clock and shot clock, Belmont worked its offensive possession and freed Mercer inside. But his baseline shot missed, and the Vikings secured the rebound.
After racing into the frontcout and calling timeout with 4.3 seconds left, Cleveland State again turned to Flannigan, who spun baseline and made a left-handed bank shot with 1.8 seconds left to put the Vikings back in front.
Belmont called timeout to set up one final play, but a baseball pass downcourt from senior Jeff Laidig (Mishawaka, Ind.) would be deflected away as the horn sounded.
It was a difficult pill to swallow for the Bruins, in particular, as the second half effort was among the top 20 minutes of the season. It included tremendous hustle stats: a staggering 13 offensive rebounds, eight forced turnovers, and 19 free throw attempts.
All told, Belmont shot 35 percent (20-for-58) from the field - including 6-for-23 from three-point distance. The Bruins were just 1-for-10 from behind the arc in the second half.
Mercer led three Bruins in double figures with a career-high 20 points. He added 10 rebounds for his first career double-double.
Barnette had 16 points, while Egekeze added 15 points and six rebounds.
Flannigan led Cleveland State (4-7) with 16 points.
Belmont (7-6) returns to game action Monday, Dec. 28 versus Valparaiso. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. CT from the Curb Event Center.
The game will be broadcast on the OVC Digital Network. The live play-by-play of Voice of the Bruins Kevin Ingram can be heard on the Bruin Sports Network.
